The FAA will soon begin work on the next step in a multi-year effort to update the scientific evidence on the relationship between aircraft noise exposure and its effects on communities around airports. “The FAA is sensitive to public concerns about aircraft noise,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "We understand the interest in expediting this research, and we will complete this...

Russian Helicopters and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) have signed a framework agreement to work together on creating an advanced heavy helicopter. Under the agreement, the parties will work on all areas of development and preparation to launch serial production of the new aircraft, named the Advanced Heavy Lift (AHL). The agreement was signed today at the Moscow Kremlin by Alexander MIkheev, CEO of...

Bristow Helicopters uses the AgustaWestland AW189 for offshore transport missions, as well as for search and rescue in the U.K. Photo courtesy of Bristow Helicopters With their fates tied to the ever-swinging price of crude oil, helicopter offshore transport operators had a tough year in 2014. Around this time last year, oil sold for more than $100 per barrel. By January, that price had been halved. Though...

USAAC 2nd Lt. Carter Harman (left side, standing) flew the first combat rescue mission in an YR-4B in Burma in 1944. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. On May 8, the National Mall in Washington will be the site of several vintage World War II aircraft fly-bys commemorating Victory in Europe (V-E) Day – the day in 1945 when victory was declared in the European theater of the war...

On April 2, United Technologies Corp. appointed Robert Leduc as president of Sikorsky Aircraft effective immediately. He succeeds Mick Maurer, who moved to the newly created position of UTC senior vice president, Strategic Projects. Both Leduc and Maurer will report to UTC President and CEO Gregory Hayes. “Across the aerospace industry, Bob is recognized as a proven leader,” Hayes said...

Columbia Helicopters has hired Santiago Crespo as its new Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. Crespo previously served as Vice President & General Manager of Oil and Gas Aviation at Erickson Incorporated, and will assume his new duties on May 11th. “I am pleased that Santiago has decided to join the Columbia Helicopters family,” said Jim Rankin, company president...

The FAA has demonstrated a new smartphone application called “B4UFLY,” designed to help model aircraft and unmanned aircraft (UAS) users know if it is safe and legal to fly in their current or planned location. “We want to make sure hobbyists and modelers know where it is and isn’t okay to fly,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “While there are other apps that...

By Mike Hangge Fifty feet up, open desert below, 110 knots. Heat forgotten, sweat pouring. Crew meshed, flight locked tight. Target in sight. One minute out… To me, there just isn’t anything quite as perfect as those moments when life is forgotten and there’s nothing but the mission. Everything depends on me doing my job. Everything depends on each of us doing our jobs. We are fused...

Australia has commissioned into service the first two of seven Boeing CH-47F Chinook “Foxtrot” cargo helicopters for the Australian Army. The two helicopters are part of an A$631 million project that includes seven CH-47Fs and two flight simulators. The simulators were delivered in April 2014 and February 2015, and have since then been training Army Chinook crews. The first helicopters were...

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will be at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., Friday, May 8 to participate in a ceremony recognizing Langley’s decades of contributions to improving helicopters and other vertical flight aircraft. NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., has done research on helicopters and other vertical flight aircraft almost...

CHC Helicopter has announced that Lee Eckert will be succeeding Joan Hooper as Chief Financial Officer effective July 16, 2015. Mr. Eckert was most recently CFO of the $13 billion in sales U.S. division of National Grid Plc., an international energy company listed on the London Stock Exchange and with ADRs trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The appointment of Mr. Eckert...

Textron Systems Support Solutions has introduced its new unmanned systems training course catalog. The company has developed curricula including both classroom and hands-on training elements, utilizing customized materials and training aids to provide a holistic experience. The company’s training experts then tailor the program to the customer’s language of choice, skill level (beginner to...

Eveline Bisson has been appointed as Director of Transport Business Services for Metro Aviation, a new position that will allow HEMS customers to consult with a Metro resource to improve their internal business practices, both clinically and financially. Photo courtesy of Metro Aviation “The Metro family is a diverse community consisting...

Following the devastation of Cyclone Pam, the Vanuatu Government and the World Bank contacted Australian operator Heliwest, who deployed Lockheed Martin’s Indago small unmanned aerial system (UAS) to conduct a rapid damage assessment. The Indago collected imagery of the damage over a two-week mission and provided the data to operators, without risking a life. Photo courtesy of Heliwest...

Erickson Incorporated will release its earnings results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 on Monday, May 11, 2015 after the market closes. Jeff Roberts, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Eric Struik, the...

CHC Group Ltd. has announced today that as of midnight New York City time on May 1, 2015, the expiration date, $20,755,150 aggregate principal amount of outstanding 9.375% Senior Notes due 2021 of CHC Helicopter S.A., its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, had been tendered and not withdrawn in the previously...

Aerospace and professional services provider Nova Systems is expanding its European business (Nova Systems UK) with the purchase of an Airbus Helicopter H135. The fully-instrumented aircraft will be used to test the latest sensors...

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